German court orders Google to delete private property images from Maps and Earth

A family father in Frankfurt sued Google to remove images of his home from Street View. He had earlier succeeded in having his house blurred on Street View and Apple Look Around. The current case concerns aerial images of his property on Google Maps and Earth. The court reviewed the case in the Frankfurt district court.

The court found that Google infringed the plaintiff’s privacy by publishing aerial images of the property. It said that no one should accept worldwide publication of aerial images without consent when areas are hidden from public view. The plaintiff’s personal space extends across the entire parcel of land. The images reveal personal details such as the size and design of the property.

The court accused Google of acquiring the images by 'spying' because it does not notify owners that their properties will be filmed. It also said that Google cannot invoke freedom of information to justify invading private spaces. Google claims that its services democratize knowledge, but the court found that claim insufficient.

The court ordered Google to delete the aerial images from its services. The decision is not yet final. The case highlights the limits of satellite imagery for private property. Google has a complaint process for Street View but not for satellite images.